The Taxi Tapes

Swarthmore college alum writer/actor/podcaster Sam Dingman won the Moth Story Slam earlier this month with an extract of his solo show The Taxi Tapes based on his experiences behind the wheel of a New York City taxi. Dingman brings his act to Philly as part of the 11th annual First Person Arts festival this week playing two shows at Ortlieb’s Jazz Lounge. “I wrote this show because I loved driving a taxi cab as much as I love performing in front of live audience,” says Dingman. “New York City cab drivers are like the cowboys of the Wild West driving, unnoticed, but are the essential oil running the great machine that is New York City.” From his first fare on a cold January morning to the last, Dingman offers you a glimpse of the working class of New York City you won’t find on a subway map. Anyone from comedian Jon Stewart to drunken tourists could hop into Dingman’s backseat at any given time. No one day is the same in Dingman’s taxi cab, so buckle up! -Jessica Foley